Bayelsa State Governor,
Hon. Seriake DickSon has  sworn in a new Head of Service,  Dr. Josephine Igodo, former Permanent Secretary in charge of Ministry of Works.
Speaking at Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson said, the swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Igodo was necessitated by the retirement of the out-gone Head of Service, Sir Fraser Okuoru.
The Governor, who noted that, her appointment as the new Head of Service was coming at a time when political activities were being heightened in the state and country,  admonished public servants not to constitute themselves into what he described as, an arm of the opposition in the polity.
His words: “The public service must sit up. As the head of the government, I take decisions without political considerations in order to insulate the public service from the pressures and travails of those of us, who are in the political life.
“The new Head of Service has a duty to our state, to inculcate this principle of insulation. Tell civil servants, who are interested in politics to know what to do. Continue to tell them not constitute themselves into an arm of the opposition. The public service is for disciplined people.
“Anybody can win an election and become your political master, but it is the responsibility of the public service and the senior bureaucrats to bring to bear the rigours and discipline of that service.”
Congratulating Dr. Igodo for attaining the highest pinnacle in the civil service at the state level, Governor Dickson said, her appointment was based on seniority, merit and qualification, rather than political considerations.
He also urged the new leadership of the public service to collaborate with the government to carry on the reforms being instituted by the restoration government towards professionalising the public service.
To this end, Governor Dickson enjoined Dr. Igodo to work closely with the Governor’s office to ensure the commencement of the construction of the Public Service Training Institute to boost the on-going capacity building programme of the present administration.
The Governor, who also lauded the out-gone Head of Service, Sir Fraser Okuoru for his meritorious service, wished him well in his future endeavors.